Self-singulating weight sizer

ABSTRACT

A sorter sorts discrete bruisable articles, such as pieces of fruit like applies, with minimum bruising. A continuous conveyor chain has a number of discrete article supporting elements connected to it for linear movement with it, and for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the chain. At various stations along the chain a self-singulating section is provided in which the articles are singulated onto the supporting elements, a weighing section (or like property determining section) is provided after the self-singulating section, and a discharge section is provided at which the articles are discharged depending upon the weight sensed in the weighing section. The same chain supporting elements may continue through a second self-singulating section, a second weighing section, and a second discharge section. The supporting elements comprise plastic cups defining a shallow depresssion on a top face, e.g. a conically shaped depression with sidewalls making an angle of about 20°-30° with respect to the horizontal. The discharge section comprises a rail and a stationary cam having an upwardly angled cam surface located above the rail, and vertically spaced from the rail a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a pin extending from the cup. An electromagnet, or related mechanism, selectively deflects the pin so as to engage the angled cam surface to thereby ride up the cam surface and discharge the article carried by the cup.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the design of equipment for sorting discrete bruisable articles,particularly for sorting pieces of fruit (e.g. apples or pears) byweight, color, or other property, additional care is being taken tohandle the fruit gently so as to reduce bruising. While prior artsorters, such as disclosed in U.S. Pats. Nos. 4,595,091 and 4,262,807 donot necessarily handle the fruit roughly, there is a perception in thetrade that the fruit should be handled more gently and thereforemanufacturers of fruit sorting equipment are attempting to respond tothis perception.

The two major areas where bruising can occur in conventional articlesorting equipment are in the transfer of the pieces of fruit from asingulating mechanism to the conveyance cups (which then subsequentlypass over a load cell or the like), and in the discharge of the piecesof fruit at a discharge section. Often the discharge is handled so thatthe piece of fruit is discharged in the direction of conveyance so thatit has a large velocity component in that direction. It is moredesirable so as to minimize bruising to discharge the article without asignificant velocity component in the direction of conveyance by movingit generally perpendicular to the direction of conveyance. While therehave been a number of procedures for effecting this in the past, such asshown in U.S. Pats. No. 4,595,091 and 4,586,613, oftentimes a largerdischarge force than desirable has been imparted to the article eitherdue to impacting of the article with a sidewardly moving element, orbecause the angle of tilt necessary to discharge the article wasrelatively large (e.g. more than about 30°).

According to the present invention, an article sorting apparatus andmethod are provided which seek to minimize the bruising of fruit duringsorting thereof according to fruit property (particularly weight, butalso possibly color, or other property thereof) while providing a simpleand economical arrangement.

The apparatus according to the invention includes a continuous conveyingchain elongated in a dimension of elongation with a plurality ofdiscrete article supporting elements (cups) connected to the chain forlinear movement with it, and for pivotal movement with respect to thechain about an axis generally parallel to the dimension of elongation. Aplurality of stations are provided for the continuous conveying chainand article supporting elements, including a self-singulating section inwhich the articles are singulated onto the supporting elements, anarticle property determining section through which the articles arecarried by the supporting elements and properties thereof sensed, and adischarge section in which the articles are selectively discharged at aplurality of spaced distinct locations depending upon the propertiesthereof sensed in the article property determining section. Theself-singulating section may comprise a feed conveyor disposed at anangle with respect to the dimension of elongation and on one side of thearticle supporting elements, and a cushioning backstop disposed on theopposite side of the supporting elements from the feed conveyor. Anoverflow region before the article property determining section allowsarticles not singulated onto the supporting elements to move off of thesupporting elements and the chain to be ultimately returned to the feedconveyor. The article property determining section preferably comprisesa weighing station, having a load cell, and the elements are mounted tothe chain with lost motion in the vertical direction so that they may beaccurately weighed while continuously conveyed over the load cell.

The supporting elements preferably comprise plastic cups, each having ashallow depression on a top face. The depression is deep enough topositively hold the article for property determination and conveyance,but shallow enough so that the cup need be tilted only a small amountabout its axis to effect discharge with minimal bruising; e.g. agenerally conically shaped depression may be provided with the sidewallsthereof making an angle of between about 20°-30° with respect to thehorizontal. Each cup includes a pin having a predetermined thicknessextending outwardly from it generally perpendicular to the dimension ofelongation.

The discharge section comprises a rail and a stationary cam having anupwardly angled cam surface located above the rail. The angled camsurface is vertically spaced from the rail a distance slightly greaterthan the thickness of the pin so as to allow passage of the pin beneathit if not deflected to the cam surface. An electromagnet or other meansare provided for selectively deflecting the pin so as to engage theangled cam surface when deflected and thereby ride up the cam surfaceproviding for discharge of the article.

The article sorter can also include a second self-singulating section, asecond article property determining section, and a second dischargesection following the first such sections, with the same chain andsupporting elements extending therethrough. It is not believed that suchan arrangement has been provided in a weight sizer before.

Apparatus according to the present invention also may comprise: Acontinuous conveying chain elongated in a dimension of elongation. Aplurality of discrete article supporting elements connected to the chainfor linear movement therewith, and including means for mounting theelements for pivotal movement with respect to the chain about an axisgenerally parallel to the dimension of elongation, each of thesupporting elements comprising a plastic cup having means defining ashallow depression on a top face thereof, the depression being deepenough to positively hold an article for property determination andconveyance, but shallow enough so that the cup need be tilted only asmall amount about the axis to effect discharge of the article. And,means for selectively effecting tilting of the cups so as to effectdischarge of the articles therefrom. The cups are also mounted for lostmotion in the vertical for accurate weighing, the same structuremounting the cups for pivotal movement and lost motion in the vertical.

The invention further contemplates a method of handling bruisablearticles to minimize the bruising action of handling. The methodcomprises the steps of: (a) While continuously conveying the bruisablearticles in a direction of conveyance, sequentially (a1) singulating,(a2) weighing, and (a3) selectively discharging the articles dependingupon the weights thereof, utilizing a continuous mechanism so that thereis no necessity for transferring the articles from one conveyancemechanism to another. And, (b) practicing said step (a3) by dischargingthe articles so that there is a minimal velocity component in thedirection of conveyance when the article is discharged.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide for thesimple and effective sorting of discrete bruisable articles with aminimum of bruising. This and other objects of the invention will becomeclear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention,and from the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary self-singulating section ofan article sorter according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of an exemplary discrete article supportingelement (cup) mounted on a chain, utilizable in the apparatus accordingto the invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cup of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the cup of FIG. 2 shown pivoted about an axisconnecting the cup to the chain;

FIG. 5 is a exploded detail view of the mechanisms for interconnectingthe cup and chain for the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are side and end views respectively of a modified form ofchain that the apparatus according to the invention can utilize;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an exemplary discharge section of theapparatus according to the invention;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are side views of the exemplary discharge section of FIG.8 illustrating deflection of a cup to ride up the stationary cam, orpassage of the cup past the cam, respectively;

FIG. 11 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of deflecting meansfrom that illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of exemplary apparatus according to theinvention; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of apparatusaccording to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to FIG. 12, the basic sections of an article sorter forsorting discrete bruisable articles, such as pieces of fruit (apples,pears, etc.) is schematically illustrated by reference numeral 10. Theapparatus includes a loading, self-singulating section 11, a weighing orother article property determining section 12, and a discharge, sortingsection 13. The basic elements that extend throughout the sections 11through 13 comprise a plurality of discrete article supporting elements(e.g. cups) 15 movable in a linear dimension 16, and connected to achain 17 (e.g. see FIGS. 2 and 4) for movement in the direction 16, thechain 17 elongated in the dimension 16. The chain 17 is connected up toconventional sprockets, motors, and the like for continuously moving thechain, the details of which are standard and not per se a part of thisinvention.

In order to prevent the bruising that can occur when the pieces of fruitare transferred from a singulating section to a weighing section, aself-singulating action is provided. An exemplary self-singulatingsection is illustrated in detail in FIG. 1. In this particularself-singulating action, a feed conveyor 18, which may include rollersand a brush rotatable about axes parallel to the dimension 16, conveythe pieces of fruit toward the cups 15, the fruit being guided on thesides thereof by sidewalls (one sidewall 19 being seen in FIG. 1).Located on the opposite side of the cups 15 from the feed conveyor 18 isa cushioning backstop 21, which may be--as illustrated in FIG. 1--merelya stationary roll of rubber, foam, or like cushioning material. Anyarticles tending to roll past the cups 15 will impact the backstop 21and be gently pushed back onto the cups 15. At the end of theself-singulating section 11, and before the cups 15 transport thearticles into the weighing section 12, an overflow discharge 23 isprovided. A wall 22 prevents articles that have not been singulated intoa cup 15 from moving off the cups 15 in that direction (the wall 22having projections 22' thereon which tend to move the fruit notsingulated onto cups 15 to the overflow section 23). At the overflowsection 23 the pieces of fruit move onto a surface 24, which preferablyis a conveyor which transports the overflow fruit in a dimensionopposite the dimension 16, so that it is ultimately recycled to the feedsection 18 utilizing any conventional return conveyors or the like.

Utilizing the apparatus 10, the self-singulating action is not dependentupon a side feed of fruit, but rather the fruit also may be fed onto thecups 15 from the end thereof, that is already moving in the dimension16. End feeding mechanisms per se are known, typically including funnelsor funnel-shaped walls which cause the fruit to move--under theinfluence of gravity, or conveyed by a conveyor--into a generally singlefile arrangement to be deposited on the cups 15.

The cups 15 and the chain 17 extend continuously throughout theself-singulating, weighing, and discharging sections 11 through 13.Where the section 12 is in fact a weighing section including a load cell(it may be another article property determining section in place of orin addition to a weighing section, such as an article color sensingsection), the cups 15 are mounted to the chain 17 with a lost motion inthe vertical dimension so that the articles may be accurately weighedwhile continuously conveyed, and additionally the cups are mounted forpivotal movement with respect to the chain 17 so that discharge can beeffected in the discharge section 13. One form of an exemplary cup andinterconnection of the cup to the chain is illustrated in FIGS. 2through 5.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 through 5, the article supporting elements15 comprise a cup body 25 which may be injection molded of plastic, butin the actual embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 is machined from a solidblock of plastic, such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. Thebody 25 includes bosses 26 extending downwardly from the sides thereof.The bosses 26 are adapted to engage rails in the weighing section so asto properly effect weighing. Neither the bosses 26 nor the weighingsection are described in detail herein since they are conventional, suchas illustrated in U.S. Pats. No. 4,660,665, 4,413,690, or 4,262,807, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Also machined from the same block of plastic and integral with the cupbody 25 and extending downwardly therefrom are the walls 28. These walls28 extend generally perpendicular to the dimension 16 when the element15 is in use. The walls 28 include means defining a first relativelysmall generally circular opening 29 (see FIG. 2) at one side thereof,for receipt of a pivot pin 30, and means defining a second, much larger,generally circular opening 31 in the other side thereof, which receivesthe pin 32 with a lost motion connection to allow accurate weighing ofthe articles transported by the element 15 in the weighing section 12.Note that the pin 32, opening 31, and related structures comprise meansfor simultaneously mounting said elements 15 for pivotal movement withrespect to said chain 17 about the axis defined by pin 32 generallyparallel to said dimension of elongation 16, and for mounting saidelements 15 for lost motion in the vertical dimension so that saidelements may pass over weighing means in section 12 (e.g. load cell 81)and distinctly separate each said element with supported article fromthe other components of the sorter 10 so that the supported article maybe accurately weighed by the weighing means.

A pin 34 also is provided extending outwardly from each cup body 25, thepin having a predetermined thickness (vertical dimension), and extendingfrom the body 25 in a direction generally perpendicular to the dimension16. As illustrated in FIG. 3, there also is means defining a depression36 in the top surface of the cup body 25. The dimension 35 of depression36 typically may be about 3 5/8 inches if apples or the like are thearticles to be sorted. The depression depth 36 is just deep enough sothat the article is positively held in place for property determination(e.g. weighing) and conveyance, but shallow enough so that the cup body25 need be tilted only a small amount about an axis defined by rod 32 toeffect discharge of the article with minimal bruising. For example asillustrated in FIG. 3, the depression 36 is generally conically shaped,with the sidewalls thereof making an angle A of between about 20°-30°with respect to the horizontal. This angle A will be optimized dependingupon the article being conveyed, but for apples it is desirably onlyabout 20° or slightly more.

The cup body 25 is connected to the chain 17 by the mechanisms 30, 32,41, 47, and 53. The structure 41 comprises a plate 42 which has upturnedears 43 on one end thereof with means defining openings 44 in the ears43, the openings 44 for receipt of the pivot rod 32. The structure 47merely connects the rods 30, 32. In the embodiment illustrated, thestructure 47 merely takes the form of a standard regular polyethylenechain link, having main elongated elements 48 interconnected by crosselements 49, and having means defining openings 50, 52 at the endsthereof for receipt of the rods 30, 32 respectively. The element 47could take a wide variety of other shapes, the shape illustrated merelybeing one that is convenient and readily commercially available. Theplate 42 is bolted or otherwise connected to the surfaces 53 extendingoutwardly from the chain 17 (see FIG. 2), the chain 17 itself comprisingthe links 54 which are interconnected by pins 55, as is conventional.

While the bosses 26 are preferably utilized in the weighing section toride over the load cell, if desired pins, like pin 34, may be providedextending from both sides of the cup body 25, for weighing.

As seen in FIG. 4, the cup body may be pivoted about an axis defined bythe rod 32, the rod 32 extending generally parallel to the dimension 16.If the pin 34 is engaged and moved upwardly, the elements 28, 47 willpivot about the rod 32, while the ears 43 and plate 42 remainstationarily mounted to the chain 17 via surfaces 53.

An alternative manner in which the chain can be connected to the cup isillustrated schematically in FIGS. 6 and 7. In this embodimentstructures having the same function as in the FIGS. 2 through 4embodiment are illustrated by the same reference numeral only precededby a "1". In this embodiment, the chain 117 includes standard links withstandard pivot pin connections 155 therebetween, with bars 143 welded toone of the links 154 of selected sections of the chain and extendingoutwardly therefrom in a dimension perpendicular to the dimension 16.The bars 143 have means defining openings 144 therein for receipt of thepivot rod 132.

Note that in both the embodiment of FIGS. 2 through 5, and theembodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the pivot surfaces for the cup are isolatedfrom the articles being conveyed. This is particularly important wherethe articles are fruit, such as apples, to which a wax is typicallyapplied during handling, insuring that there will be no wax buildup onthe pivot surfaces which can ultimately can cause the pivotal action tobe less responsive than desirable, and require cleaning (as in the cupconstructions as illustrated in U.S. Pats. No. 4,660,665 and 4,262,807).

An exemplary discharge section 13 is illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 10.In this section, as in the weighing section 12, the chain 17 and articlesupporting elements 15 are continuous, so that there is no opportunityfor bruising of the articles as they move from one section to the other.In the discharge section 13, the articles are discharged in a dimensionwhich is generally perpendicular to the dimension of conveyance 16.

In the section 13 at a plurality of positions spaced therealong,stationary cams 60 are provided. The cams 60 cooperate with a rail 63,which the pins 34 ride upon. The cam 60 is spaced a vertical distance 62(see FIG. 9) from the rail 63 which is slightly greater than thethickness (vertical dimension) of the pins 34 so that the pins 34 mayeither move underneath the cam 60, or be deflected onto the cam 60.Means are provided for selectively deflecting the pins 34 onto the cam60, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 10 such meanstaking the form of an arm 65 connected to a rotary solenoid 67. When thesolenoid 67 is activated, it engages the pin 34 and causes the pin 34 toride up it onto the upwardly angled surface 69 of the cam 60. By thetime the pin 34 has reached the flat top surface 70 of the cam 60, thecup body 25 attached to the pin 34 has been pivoted a sufficient amountabout the axis 32 so as to have effected discharge of the article (e.g.apple) therefrom. The pin 34, for the now empty cup, then rides backdown the downwardly sloping surface 71 of the stationary cam 60 until itagain engages the rail 63.

While the cam 60 is stationary, its position can be adjusted dependingupon the articles being conveyed, etc. Adjustment may be provided by themounting mechanisms 74, 75, and 76 illustrated in FIG. 8. Upstandingplate 74 is stationary with respect to the rail 63, and horizontallyspaced therefrom, and mounts the rotary solenoid 67, as well as thebolts 75. Bolts 75 are received in vertically elongated openings 76 inthe plate 74, and received in horizontally elongated openings 77 in thecam 70 (see FIG. 8) so that both the vertical and horizontal position ofthe upwardly inclined cam surface 69 may be adjusted.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of the deflecting means in thedischarge section. In the FIG. 11 embodiment, structures having the samefunction as those illustrated in the FIGS. 8 through 10 embodiment areindicated by the same reference numeral only preceded by a "1". The onlysignificant difference between this embodiment and the FIGS. 8 through10 embodiment is that an electromagnet 165 is positioned close to theintersection between the rail 163 and an extension of the upwardlyextending cam surface 169 of the stationary cam 160. As a pin 134 movestoward the electromagnet 165, if the weight or other property of thearticle carried by the cup associated with the pin 134 requires that itbe discharged at the discharge area associated with the cam 160, theelectromagnet 165 is energized, attracting the metal pin 134 toward itso that the pin 134 moves onto the surface 169, after which the currentto the electromagnet 165 is cut off until the next cup with an articleof desired property approaches it.

A common computer control is provided for the components of theapparatus 10. For example the rotary solenoid 67, the electric motor 80for moving chain and cups, and the conventional load cell 81 in theweighing section 12, are all interconnected with the computer control82. Depending upon the weights of the articles sensed in the weighingsection 12, they will be discharged at the appropriate one of aplurality of discharge ports in the discharge section 13, and thereforethe articles will be sorted by weight, or any other desired propertysensed in the section 12.

Because the shallowness of the depression 36 and the fact that the cupbody 25 is pivoted about the axis defined by rod 32 (which is parallelto the direction of conveyance 16), minimum bruising of the articles(e.g. apples) will occur in the discharge section 13.

FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment. In this embodiment componentscomparable to those in the FIG. 12 embodiment are illustrated by thesame reference numeral only preceded by a "1" or "2". In thisembodiment, two, or even more, linearly connected groups of sections areprovided. For example there is the first self-singulating section 111,the first weighing section 112, and the first discharge section 113.Then, immediately after the discharge section 113, and utilizing thesame, continuously extending, cups and conveyor chain, a secondself-singulating section 211 is provided, a second weighing section 212,and a second discharge section 213. A common motor 180 is provided forcontinuously conveying the chain and cups throughout all of the sections111 through 113 and 211 through 213. A separate load cell 181, 281 isprovided in each of the weighing sections, and each of the dischargesections has a plurality of solenoids 167, 267, or the like. A commoncomputer control 182 is provided. In this way, the same elements may beutilized to weight size two (or more) feeds of fruit, which could be thesame fruit in each case, or different fruits.

It will be seen that according to the present invention a simple,inexpensive, yet effective apparatus and method have been provided foreffecting sorting of bruisable articles with a minimum amount ofbruising. By providing self-singulation, shallow depressions in thearticle supporting elements 15, and discharge perpendicular to thedirection of conveyance 16 (so that there is a minimum velocitycomponent in any given direction at the time of discharge), fruitbruising is minimized. Also, the apparatus according to the inventionhas a number of other advantages compared to conventional weight sizers,such as shown in U.S. Pats. No. 4,660,665 and 4,262,807. In particular,the system can be run more quickly, at speeds up to about 10 cups persecond due to the construction of the components and the closerplacement of the article supporting elements 15. Also, since the pivotsurfaces are isolated from any wax, or the like, that would be applied,less maintenance is necessary and better and more positive discharge canbe expected.

While the invention has been shown in what is presently conceived to bethe most practical and preferred embodiment, it will be apparent thatmany modifications may be made thereof. For example, while the inventionhas been shown with respect to a single line of cups 15, it is readilyapparent that a plurality of lines of cups may be provided side-by-side.Each line may be provided with a separate feed section 18, or a commonfeed section may be provided. A wide variety of other modifications arealso possible, and the invention is to be accorded the broadestinterpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalentstructures and methods.

What is claimed is:
 1. An article sorter for sorting discrete bruisablearticles, comprising:a continuous conveying chain elongated in adimension of elongation; a plurality of discrete article supportingelements connected to said chain for linear movement therewith andpivotal movement with respect thereto; a plurality of stations for saidcontinuous conveying chain and article supporting elements including:(a) a self-singulating section in which the articles are singulated ontothe supporting elements, (b) an article property determining sectionthrough which the articles are carried by said supporting elements andproperties thereof sensed, and (c) a discharge section in which thearticles are selectively discharged at a plurality of spaced distinctlocations depending upon the properties thereof sensed in said articleproperty determining section; and wherein said section (a) comprises afeed conveyor disposed at an angle with respect to said dimension ofelongation and on one side of said article supporting elements, and acushioning backstop disposed on the opposite side of said supportingelements from said feed conveyor, and an overflow region for allowingarticles not singulated onto said supporting elements to move off ofsaid elements and said chain and to be ultimately returned to said feedconveyor.
 2. A sorter as recited in claim 1, further comprising a secondself-singulating section, a second article property determining section,and a second discharge section following said sections (a)-(c) with thesame chain and supporting elements extending therethrough, and whereinsaid article property determining sections are weighing sectionsincluding means for determining the weights of the articles passingtherethrough.
 3. A sorter as recited in claim 1, wherein each articlesupporting element includes a pin having a predetermined thickness andextending outwardly therefrom generally perpendicular to said dimensionof elongation; and wherein said discharge section (c) comprises a railand a stationary cam having an upwardly angled cam surface located abovesaid rail, said angled cam surface vertically spaced from said rail adistance slightly greater than the thickness of said pin so as to allowpassage of said pin beneath said stationary cam if not deflected to saidcam surface; and means for selectively deflecting said pins so as toengage said angled cam surface when deflected and thereby ride up saidcam surface.
 4. A sorter as recited in claim 1, further including meansfor simultaneously mounting said discrete article supporting elementsfor pivotal movement with respect to said chain about an axis generallyparallel to said dimension of elongation, and for mounting said elementsfor lost motion in a vertical dimension so that when said elements areconveyed through section (b) each said element with supported article isdistinctly separate from the other components thereof, saidsimultaneously mounting means comprising a single pin for each elementoperatively connected to said chain and mounting the element with whichit is associated for pivotal movement and having a vertical lost motionreception by said element.
 5. A sorter as recited in claim 1 comprisingmeans for mounting said elements for pivotal movement with respect tosaid chain about an axis generally parallel to said dimension ofelongation, and wherein each of said supporting elements comprises aplastic cup having means defining a shallow depression in a top facethereof, said depression being deep enough to positively hold an articlefor property determination and conveyance, but shallow enough so thatthe cup need be tilted only a small amount about said axis, so as toaffect discharge with minimal bruising.
 6. A sorter as recited in claim5, wherein said means defining a depression provides a generallyconically shaped depression with side walls making an angle of betweenabout 20 and 30 degrees with respect to the horizontal.
 7. A sorter asrecited in claim 5, wherein said plastic cups are made of ultra highmolecular weight polyethylene.
 8. A sorter as recited in claim 1,wherein said section (b) comprises a weighing section, including aweighing means therein for weighing said articles while supported bysaid supporting elements.
 9. A sorter as recited in claim 8 comprisingmeans for mounting said elements for pivotal movement with respect tosaid chain about an axis generally parallel to said dimension ofelongation, and wherein each of said supporting elements comprises aplastic cup having means defining a shallow depression in a top facethereof, said depression being deep enough to positively hold an articlefor property determination and conveyance, but shallow enough so thatthe cup need be tilted only a small amount about said axis, so as toaffect discharge with minimal bruising.
 10. A sorter as recited in claim9, wherein said means defining a depression provides a generallyconically shaped depression with side walls making an angle of betweenabout 20 and 30 degrees with respect to the horizontal.
 11. A sorter asrecited in claim 9, wherein each article supporting element includes apin having a predetermined thickness and extending outwardly therefromgenerally perpendicular to said dimension of elongation; and whereinsaid discharge section (c) comprises a rail and a stationary cam havingan upwardly angled cam surface located above said rail, said angled camsurface vertically spaced from said rail a distance slightly greaterthan the thickness of said pin so as to allow passage of said pinbeneath said stationary cam if not deflected to said cam surface; andmeans for selectively deflecting said pins so as to engage said angledcam surface when deflected and thereby ride up said cam surface.
 12. Amethod of handling bruisable articles to minimize the bruising action ofhandling utilizing a plurality of discrete article supporting elementswhich are mounted for pivotal movement about an axis generally parallelto the direction of conveyance, comprising the steps of:(a) whilecontinuously conveying the bruisable articles in a direction ofconveyance, sequentially (a1) singulating, (a2) weighing, and (a3)selectively discharging the articles depending upon the weights thereof,utilizing a continuous mechanism so that the articles are nottransferred from one conveyance mechanism to another; and (b) practicingsaid step (a3) by discharging the articles so that there is a minimalvelocity component in the direction of conveyance when the article isdischarged, by causing selective discrete article supporting elements tomove into engagement with a stationary cam so as to pivot them aboutsaid axis to be discharged in a direction generally perpendicular to thedirection of conveyance.
 13. A method as recited in claim 12, utilizinga plurality of discrete article supporting elements mounted for linearmovement in said direction of conveyance in single file relationship,with an overflow discharge disposed in an area prior to weighing of thearticles, and wherein step (a1) is practiced by feeding the articles tothe supporting elements in a dimension generally perpendicular to saiddirection of conveyance while providing a cushioning backstop for thearticles to engage to stop their movement in the feed direction, andcausing the overflowing articles not received by a discrete articlesupporting element to move off said elements prior to the practice ofstep (a2).
 14. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said bruisablearticles are pieces of fruit.
 15. An article sorter for sorting discretebruisable articles comprising:a continuous conveying chain elongated ina dimension of elongation; a plurality of discrete article supportingelements connected to said chain for linear movement therewith, andincluding means for mounting said elements for pivotal movement withrespect to said chain about an axis generally parallel to said dimensionof elongation, each of said supporting elements comprising a plastic cuphaving means defining a shallow depression on a top face thereof, saiddepression being deep enough to positively hold an article for propertydetermination and conveyance, but shallow enough so that the cup need betilted only a small amount about said axis to effect discharge of thearticle; means for selectively effecting tilting of said cups so as toeffect discharge of the articles therefrom, said means comprisingstationary cam means and deflecting means for bringing said cups intooperative association with said cam means; wherein said means formounting a cup for pivotal movement about said axis further comprisesmeans for allowing lost motion movement of said cup with respect to saidchain in the vertical so as to allow weighing of the article beingconveyed by said cup during continuous conveyance; and wherein saidmeans for effecting pivotal movement of said cup further comprises astationary rail elongated in the dimension of elongation, and a pinextending from each cup and engaging said rail; said stationary cammounted adjacent said rail but vertically spaced therefrom a distance toallow the passage of a pin between said cam and said rail, and saiddeflecting means comprising means for selectively deflecting said pinsonto said stationary cam.
 16. An article sorter for sorting discretebruisable articles, comprising:a continuous conveying chain elongated ina dimension of elongation; weighing means for weighing the articles whenconveyed over said weighing means by said chain; a plurality of discretearticle supporting elements connected to said chain for linear movementtherewith, and including means for simultaneously mounting said elementsfor pivotal movement with respect to said chain about an axis generallyparallel to said dimension of elongation, and for mounting said elementsfor lost motion in a vertical dimension so that when said elements areconveyed over said weighing means and each said element with supportedarticle is distinctly separated from the other components of said sorterso that the supported article is accurately weighed by said weighingmeans; said simultaneous mounting means comprising a single pin for eachelement operatively connected to said chain and mounting the elementwith which it is associated for pivotal movement and having a verticallost motion reception by said element; and means for selectivelyeffecting tilting of said elements about said axis so as to effectdischarge of the articles therefrom.
 17. An article sorter for sortingdiscrete bruisable articles, comprising:a continuous conveying chainelongated in a dimension of elongation; a plurality of discrete articlesupporting elements connected to said chain for linear movementtherewith and pivotal movement with respect thereto; a plurality ofstations for said continuous conveying chain and article supportingelements including: (a) a self-singulating section in which the articlesare singulated onto the supporting elements, (b) an article propertydetermining section through which the articles are carried by saidsupporting elements and properties thereof sensed, and (c) a dischargesection in which the articles are selectively discharged at a pluralityof spaced distinct locations depending upon the properties thereofsensed in said article property determining section; and means forsimultaneously mounting said discrete article supporting elements forpivotal movement with respect to said chain about an axis generallyparallel to said dimension of elongation, and for mounting said elementsfor lost motion in a vertical dimension so that when said elements areconveyed through section (b) each said element with supported article isdistinctly separate from the other components thereof, saidsimultaneously mounting means comprising a single pin for each elementoperatively connected to said chain and mounting the element with whichit is associated for pivotal movement and having a vertical lost motionreception by said element.
 18. A sorter as recited in claim 17, whereinsaid section (a) comprises a feed conveyor disposed at an angle withrespect to said dimension of elongation and on one side of said articlesupporting elements, and a cushioning backstop disposed on the oppositeside of said supporting elements from said feed conveyor, and anoverflow region for allowing articles not singulated onto saidsupporting elements to move off of said elements and said chain and tobe ultimately returned to said feed conveyor.
 19. An article sorter forsorting discrete bruisable articles, comprising:a continuous conveyingchain elongated in a dimension of elongation; a plurality of discretearticle supporting elements connected to said chain for linear movementtherewith and pivotal movement with respect thereto; a plurality ofstations for said continuous conveying chain and article supportingelements including: (a) a self-singulating section in which the articlesare singulated onto the supporting elements, (b) an article propertydetermining section through which the articles are carried by saidsupporting elements and properties thereof sensed, and (c) a dischargesection in which the articles are selectively discharged at a pluralityof spaced distinct locations depending upon the properties thereofsensed in said article property determining section; and a secondself-singulating section, a second article property determining section,and a second discharge section following said sections (a)-(c) with thesame chain and supporting elements extending therethrough, and whereinsaid article property determining sections are weighing sectionsincluding means for determining the weights of the articles passingtherethrough.
 20. An article sorter for sorting discrete bruisablearticles, comprising:a continuous conveying chain elongated in adimension of elongation; a plurality of discrete article supportingelements connected to said chain for linear movement therewith andpivotal movement with respect thereto; a plurality of stations for saidcontinuous conveying chain and article supporting elements including:(a) a self-singulating section in which the articles are singulated ontothe supporting elements, (b) an article property determining sectionthrough which the articles are carried by said supporting elements andproperties thereof sensed, and (c) a discharge section in which thearticles are selectively discharged at a plurality of spaced distinctlocations depending upon the properties thereof sensed in said articleproperty determining section; each article supporting element includinga pin having a predetermined thickness and extending outwardly therefromgenerally perpendicular to said dimension of elongation; and saiddischarge section (c) comprising a rail and a stationary cam having anupwardly angled cam surface located above said rail, said angled camsurface vertically spaced from said rail a distance slightly greaterthan the thickness of said pin so as to allow passage of said pinbeneath said stationary cam if not deflected to said cam surface; andmeans for selectively deflecting said pins so as to engage said angledcam surface when deflected and thereby ride up said cam surface.
 21. Asorter as recited in claim 20, wherein said means for selectivelydeflecting said pins comprises an electromagnet associated with eachstationary cam.
 22. A method of handling bruisable articles to minimizethe bruising action of handling utilizing a plurality of discretearticle supporting elements mounted for linear movement in saiddirection of conveyance in single file relationship, with an overflowdischarge disposed in an area prior to weighing of the articles,comprising the steps of:(a) while continuously conveying the bruisablearticles in a direction of conveyance, sequentially (a1) singulating, byfeeding the articles to the supporting elements in a dimension generallyperpendicular to said direction of conveyance while providing acushioning backstop for the articles to engage to stop their movement inthe feed direction, and causing the overflowing articles not received bya discrete article supporting element to move off said elements prior tothe practice of step (a2), (a2) weighing, and (a3) selectivelydischarging the articles depending upon the weights thereof, utilizing acontinuous mechanism so that the articles are not transferred from oneconveyance mechanism to another; and (b) practicing said step (a3) bydischarging the articles so that there is a minimal velocity componentin the direction of conveyance when the article is discharged.